They knew their score by heart.
First, there was the one who distracted the attention, who inquired about a product.
Then there was a second one who, with dexterity, got hold of expensive items.
Luxury glasses or perfumes.
A third man was waiting outside at the wheel of a car to pick up his two comrades.
The ultimate character of this little band was in charge of receiving stolen goods and selling the goods.
It is this well-oiled organization that investigators from the Versailles Research Section (Yvelines) brought down on Tuesday, June 8 by arresting the entire team in a squat in Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis) ).
Particularity: these thieves are all of Peruvian nationality.
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"We have already found facts attributed to criminals in South America," notes a source close to the investigation.
Chilean burglars in particular.
But from Peru, it is rarer ”.
On Friday, these three thieves aged 32, 34 and 37 were tried in immediate appearance by the Versailles criminal court and sentenced to 30 months in prison.
The 22-year-old receiver received an 18-month sentence, 9 of which was suspended.
A bag used to thwart the porticoes of stores found in search
The investigation by the Research Section began in April 2021 with a theft at Optical Center in Flins-sur-Seine (Yvelines). The modus operandi of this shoplifting allows the gendarmes to say that it is not an isolated event. Another detail intrigued them: witnesses claim that the thieves spoke Spanish. This will be their line of inquiry since they know that South American bands can radiate from the Paris region. During the investigations, they found the used car parked in front of a squat in Saint-Ouen. The address is known to the police who regularly conduct operations with South Americans. Surveillance is in place and they follow the three men. Investigators discover by querying European databases that the suspects have criminal records in Spain,also for damage to property. They also use many aliases and take other nationalities. They say they are Cubans among others.
The gendarmes observe their daily life. Every day, these theft pros travel hundreds of kilometers to scour stores in commercial areas. Confused, they are rampant at Nocibé de Melun (Seine-et-Marne), Alain Afflelou de Cesson (Seine-et-Marne), Vernon (Eure), Senlis (Oise) or even Charenton-le-Pont (Val de Marne). They also struck in Hauts-de-Seine and in Val-d'Oise. In total, at least eighteen thefts are alleged against them for a total loss of 14,000 euros. To challenge them on the evening of June 8, the Research Section was supported by the Yvelines PSIG (gendarmerie surveillance and intervention platoon) and the GOS IF (Observation and surveillance group). During searches carried out in the squat,Hundreds of stolen items still labeled were found including glasses from major brands, clothing, leather goods, 2200 euros in cash. But also, one of their work tools, a bag specially equipped with an aluminum lining to thwart the portals of the stores.
